Abstract Objective To compare the success of establishing spontaneous micturition following immediate trial without catheter (TWOC) to delayed TWOC in males catheterized for acute urinary retention. Materials and methods In this systematic review, we included studies reporting success rates of immediate TWOC or delayed TWOC (≤30 days) among males ≥18 years of age catheterized for acute urinary retention. We excluded studies on suprapubic catheterization, postoperative/perioperative catheterization and urinary retention related to trauma. We searched the following databases: MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Open Grey and Clinicaltrials.gov . The search was concluded on 30 November 2022. There were no restrictions on language or publication date. Risk of bias was assessed using the ROB 2.0 and ROBINS‐I tools. We did random‐effects restricted maximum likelihood model meta‐analyses. Certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE. Results We included 61 studies. In two randomized controlled trials (RCTs), both with some concerns for risk of bias, including in total 174 participants, the relative success rate was 1.22 (95% CI 0.84–1.76) favouring delayed TWOC. In two comparative cohort studies, both with serious risk of bias, including 642 participants, the relative success rate was 1.18 (0.94–1.47) favouring delayed TWOC. One study was excluded from this meta‐analysis because of critically low quality. Four studies reporting success rates for cohorts with immediate TWOC, all with serious risk of bias, including 409 participants, had an overall success rate of 47% (29–66). Fifty‐two studies reporting success rates for cohorts with delayed TWOC, all with serious risk of bias, including 12 489 participants, had an overall success rate of 53% (49–56). The certainty of the evidence was considered low for the RCTs and very low for the rest. Conclusion There was a limited number of appropriately designed studies addressing the research question directly. The evidence favours neither approach.